Redblacks' Kyries Hebert steps up his game to kick off Grey Cup week

EDMONTON – Kyries Hebert might not be the most valuable player on Sunday but, a couple of us decided, he was easily the MVP of Grey Cup Week’s Day 1.

The Redblacks linebacker was the Most Valuable Podium interview.

Pure gold.

It’s incredible how Hebert has been able to keep on playing such a physical position as a 38-year old. It’s not like he’s a quarterback who on a good day is only touched by teammates patting his butt. Linebackers either hit or get hit every play.

They also run around a lot more than anybody else on the field, too.

“I should probably get an endorsement going with McDonald’s,” said Hebert. “That’s the only thing that’s been consistent with my diet.”

Hebert went on to add he’s been “blessed with good genes” and he supplements that with a lot of hard work. He’s also had the same trainer for six years, but he’s never done the same workout twice. Along with the continuous “change in strain”, Hebert has never accepted the adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

“There’s still more to learn,” he said. “There’s still more to do and it keeps my excitement and love for the game going, because I don’t feel I’ve accomplished enough, or actually been to a pinnacle in my career. So it’s easy to be motivated, to push for more, to be better.”

Sure enough, during a 12-year CFL career that started with the Ottawa Renegades in 2004, Hebert has only made it to the Grey Cup once, when his Winnipeg Blue Bombers were on the losing side of the a 2007 battle with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Hebert has questionable recollection of the two years he spent in Ottawa before joining the Blue Bombers.

Kyries Hebert pounced on a fumble and took the ball to the house.MIKE CARROCCETTO /
OttSunWP

“I remember kicking ass and taking names … I was pretty dominant, that’s what I remember most,” he said, and there is some truth to that. In his second year, he led the CFL with 32 special teams tackles. But pressed for what he recalls about the Renegades, Hebert replied:

“We had some good guys. Kerry Joseph at quarterback … we had a ton of talent.”

The Renegades never made the playoffs in their four years of existence – a team with a ton of talent should probably be good enough to at least do that in a four-team division – and they were 5-13 and 7-11 when Hebert was there.

“The city of Ottawa embraced us like nobody’s business,” said Hebert. “That’s why it was such a joy to go back. I knew the type of fan base, and the love the city had for this team.”

By going back, he means to where it all began for him in Canada. Hebert, who was with Minnesota, Houston and Cincinnati in the NFL, signed with the Redblacks last winter after six years with the Alouettes.

“The city of Ottawa pretty much saved my football career,” he said. “The moment we won the game to actually be here, at the end of the Eastern final, it was a pretty surreal moment with my wife. She pushed me to take the leap of faith, to leave Montreal and go on to do something better with people who believe in me, in the place where it all started.

“I think that might have been the first time I actually shed a tear or joy – and I’ve had three daughters born. I’m usually not that much of a softie but everything we envisioned and we worked for … it’s not me, it’s the team. Our team busts our butts every single day. And our families, and our support systems, my wife has been a huge part of this, more than anybody would ever imagine. She should actually be on staff with the Redblacks.”

On the Redblacks roster Sunday will be Jonathan Rose, who the CFLPA has helped temporarily duck a one-game suspension for pushing an official in the division final. The appeal is a stall tactic. A review of the incident in this league would never be completed by the weekend. Rose will probably wind up missing one game next season, at which point he might not even be a Redblack.

Jonathan Rose.Jean Levac /
Postmedia

But having him against the Stampeders is a big plus for Ottawa.

“He has the absolute best hair….” began Hebert, who at that point was interrupted by teammate Michael Klassen, beside him on the podium

“Bro!”,” said Klassen, wanting a little love for his Joe Dirt cut.

“He has the best hair,” continued Hebert about Rose, “and I think his gold teeth are the shiniest of all the gold team on our teeth.”

“I think he’s a pretty good cornerback,” added Hebert. “I once read he has an eight-foot wingspan, and I think that is a great attribute for a cornerback. So he’s solid. We can depend on him to make good plays and be where he’s supposed to be.”

He was hoping a sportswriter covering the Grey Cup could pass it along, so here you have it:

“We thought your readers would like to know there’s more than a groundswell of support from (Saskatchewan) ‘Rider nation, Eskimo nation and Bombers nation for the Redblacks to annihilate the arrogant and pompous Calgary Stampeders. It’s been talked about on the radio, on the streets and everywhere in Edmonton that fans from other CFL teams have the back of the Redblacks, and I think that’s pretty huge. The national capital region would probably love to know they pretty much have got the full country on their side to defeat the Stamps once again. It’s contagious and it’s growing.”

The first eye test will come when the doors to Commonwealth Stadium open Sunday afternoon, and how many people wearing red and black plaid walk through them.

Snubbed by Stamps, Klassen “excited to get after them” on Sunday

Michael Klassen had to be thrilled to sign with his hometown Calgary Stampeders two springs ago.

Even now, he admits he was crushed when the Stamps cut him loose last winter.

“It’s always cool going back and playing your old teammates,” said Klassen, who was snapped up by the Redblacks in February. “A lot of those guys are my friends. I’d be lying to say that I wasn’t disappointed when they didn’t want to sign me back. But to speak in clichés, one door closes, another one opens. I’m so grateful and happy for my opportunity in Ottawa and I’m looking forward to Sunday.”

“I love you, brother,” Hebert said playfully. “They didn’t want you, but we love you. We accept you as you are.”

Klassen, a 27-year old who played for the Calgary Dinos, was drafted in the fourth round by the Als in 2013. After four seasons in Montreal, he signed with Calgary.

“Ultimately we’re professional football players and we go into every game trying to give our best effort, right?,” said Klassen, who had four sacks and 28 defensive tackles for the Redblacks this season. “”Playing old teams, whether it be Montreal or Calgary, there’s always that little bit of extra motivation.

“I did play them pretty well earlier in the year but again, that was (like) a whole season ago. I’m excited to get after them on Sunday, that’s for sure.”

THE SPIRIT OF EDMONTON

Grey Cup week actually started off with a bang Tuesday evening, when a couple of visiting media guys were heading into a downtown Thai restaurant for dinner. Just outside the front door they noticed a couple of homeless people who were, umm, getting it on. The media guys went somewhere else to eat ….

And how about the local resident who must have really liked the Christmas lights strewn over the trees on Jasper Ave? He liked them so much he took them, in broad daylight, Wednesday morning ….

Our very own Timmy Baines was handed the mic for the second last question at the annual coaches press conference on Wednesday, and I must admit I was very excited for him. That is, until our boy coughed and choked as he entered his moment in the spotlight. “More coffee, get some coffee,” said Dave Dickenson, not knowing Timmy doesn’t drink that stuff. “Rough day, Tim?” said Rick Campbell, to which came a good line from Timmy, who without missing a beat replied: “Hey, it’s my Grey Cup, too.” …

Greg Ellingson.Wayne Cuddington /
Postmedia

EXTRA POINTS

What makes Greg Ellingson so good? “If you watch him practice you think he’s trying to make a roster spot every week,” said Trevor Harris. passing out the ultimate compliment …

I wasn’t sure what Dickenson had said in the heat of the moment in the Western final, and when I looked it up I really didn’t think it was a big deal. Certainly nothing that should have offended a Canadian. Still, Dickenson jumped in front of the issue by opening the coaches presser with another apology. “I really truly believe I am Canadian,” he said. “Not by birth certificate, but by choice. I’ve lived up here for 22 years. I’ve got a Canadian wife, two Canadian kids and Calgary is home.” Now you’re going to look up what he said too, right? …

Of all the renditions of 10 CC’s “The Things We Do For Love” I’ve ever heard, the one belted out by a mostly Postmedia contingent in a courtesy van headed to Redblacks practice Wednesday morning was certainly one of them …

Something I never knew about Steve Simmons, a friend and college for more than 30 years: He’s a diet Dr. Pepper fiend who usually puts back about five of them before walking away from pop and its caffeine around dinner. “The drink of champions,” said Sy.

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